‘The Valley’s Tom Schwartz Talks Being There With Jax Taylor When He Was Served Divorce Papers: “I Had No Idea That Was Coming”

Vanderpump Rules as we knew it might be over, but Tom Schwartz will always be around. With the Emmy-nominated reality show getting an entirely new cast going into Season 12, the TomTom co-owner, along with his former co-stars Scheana Shay and Lala Kent, joined The Valley in a larger capacity for its sophomore season. According to Schwartz, his integration into the spinoff series was “organic” since he was already friends with the entire cast, especially Jax Taylor, who moved into an apartment next to Schwartz in the most recent episode.

On one of their first days as new neighbors, Taylor, who had been friends with Schwartz for years before they began Vanderpump Rules, was served divorce papers by his estranged wife Brittany Cartwright. Fortunately, Schwartz, who recently went through his own divorce with Katie Maloney, was there to guide him through the lengthy paperwork and confusing legal jargon.

“‘Expeditiously.’ I love that word when it comes to divorce,” Schwartz joked while speaking to Decider, noting that he was glad he could be there for Taylor in that “very surreal” moment. “I had no idea that was coming. I guess as good as getting served can be, it went as good as can be. It was just very raw and real.”

Taylor has long been a villain in the Vanderpump Rules universe, though he’s probably received more backlash this season than any other (even though he spent most of it in a rehab facility). While he sent brutal rage texts to Cartwright in between therapy sessions, continuously uncovered the cameras in their home to spy on her, and stopped paying their mortgage, Schwartz was hopeful that Taylor — now sober 200+ days — would start to show change.

“He’s made some horrible life decisions and he’s probably at the lowest point in his life,” he said. “For better or for worse, I am a friend and I do hold compassion for him, so I don’t want to abandon him. I want to make sure he’s held accountable. I’m not forgiving some of the horrible things he’s done. But I still want to see him win.”

When Schwartz stopped by Decider’s studio last week, he also opened up about Maloney’s new boyfriend (Sleeping with Sirens guitarist Nick Martin), what he knows about the new Vanderpump Rules cast, and how he feels about Tom Sandoval‘s America’s Got Talent audition. Check out the full interview below.

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DECIDER: How has life since Vanderpump Rules been treating you?

TOM SCHWARTZ: Of course, that ending was bittersweet. Not bitter, but just kind of sad. It was the end of an era, and that was my life. That was my LA family. I think it was the right decision, but of course it’s kind of sad. I feel like this whole generation of people grew up with us, as I’ve experienced being in the bars. TomTom and Schwartz and Sandy’s – R.I.P. It’s in a better place now. I’m not that sad it’s gone. It’s cool because I was in the bars four or five nights a week a lot of the time, and I’m getting to experience these beautiful life moments from people who grew up watching our show. [There were so many people who came] into TomTom and Schwartz and Sandy’s in the past five years and they were like, “We just got engaged, we met because we loved your show.” I’ve helped two people propose at the bars. I’ve had a lot of divorce parties, too, which I host. It’s been really fun and I feel really lucky.

We had 11 seasons. That’s insane. Not many people get to be on a reality show with your group of friends. Can you imagine? You joke about it when you’re having one of those funnier moments. You’re like, “Oh, my God, we should have a show.” Everyone does that and it actually happened for us. So even though it came to an end, all good things do, it was a heck of a run. 

Photo: Brian Zak / New York Post

I’m so happy that we haven’t fully said goodbye to you because we do still see you on The Valley. Do you think you’d ever consider becoming a full-time cast member if given the opportunity? 

I don’t have any say in that, but it would be organic for me because I’m friends with everybody that’s on the show. But yeah, I don’t really have any say in that. I don’t even know if the show got picked up [for Season 3]. I think it’s really good and it should definitely get picked up. It’s been weird watching my friends go through what I went through, watching their stories and watching them discuss intimate details of their life that I didn’t even know about, even though I’m really good friends with them. I think it’s a great show, so if they want to have me, I’m here. 

I feel like fans have definitely been more open to seeing you on The Valley than Scheana and Lala. What do you think about that? Does that surprise you at all?

Sometimes they were a bit harsh with their feedback and not so constructive. “We will ban the show.” But I think they’re just worried about it becoming Vanderpump Rules 2.0, and it won’t ever do that. It’s its own thing, its own entity. It’s apples and oranges. I don’t think people have to worry about it becoming Vanderpump Rules 2.0. It just has its own pulse and its own life and it’s very different. I love those two. I just watched last night’s episode and Lala’s on there and I’m friends with Lala. I like seeing them. I get it, because people really dig the show The Valley and they want to keep it The Valley. But I don’t think they don’t have to worry about that. 

I personally love a crossover.

Me too, I love crossovers! I’m a fan of seeing them on the show. I think they’re great and they’re entertaining. They are my friends, but I also think they’re very entertaining on television. Not everyone agrees with me. 

I want to get into some things going on in The Valley. Obviously, you and Jax are good friends. We’ve also seen you meet up with Brittany. How have you been navigating both friendships?

There’s a lot of times I’m conflicted because we have to hold Jax accountable. He’s made some horrible life decisions and he’s probably at the lowest point in his life. For better or for worse, I am a friend and I do hold compassion for him, so I don’t want to abandon him. I want to make sure he’s held accountable. I’m not forgiving some of the horrible things he’s done. But I still want to see him win. He’s a dad, he’s a father. I know Brittany wants this, too. I know she’s very disappointed with him, a lot of people are right now, but I know deep down they still want to see him get it together and win. I’m one of those people, too. I think there’s still more good than bad. But yeah, this is for sure a low point in his life. It’s hard. I check in with Brittany all the time, too. I’m closer with Jax, but I have great love and fondness for Brittany. She’s still one of my closest friends. It’s been rough. It’s probably the hardest moment of their lives for both of them. 

Photo: Getty Images

We’re seeing a lot of really tough stuff with Jax. Do you think rehab and sobriety has changed him? What differences do you see in him?

I wouldn’t say it’s changed him, but I think it’s a step in the right direction. He has some – and he’ll be the first to tell you this – deep-rooted mental health issues. He’s really got some demons that he’s got to learn how to wrestle or tame. At least from what I see, he is putting in the work. He’s been sober 201 days, but he still has a long way to go. Progress, not perfection, as they say. From what I see, it seems on the surface that he is making some progress, doing better, or at least trying to. But then I talk to the people that are closest to him and they have a completely different story. They’re like, “He hasn’t changed at all.” Sometimes I’m just left wondering. But I don’t want to lose hope. I’m an eternal optimist. I’m not losing hope. I’m holding accountability, but not losing hope. 

You were there with Jax when he was served divorce papers. What was it like to be there with him at that moment? Was there any part of you that was surprised?

I just watched it, so it’s fresh. I lived it, but I don’t know. It was a very surreal moment. Heavy and heartfelt. I’m glad I was there. I feel like I kind of put Jax at ease. He knows I do hold him accountable, but in that moment, I was listening and trying to not judge and to just break the news to him easily. I had no idea that was coming. I guess as good as getting served can be, it went as good as can be. It was just very raw and real. 

You put on your legal hat! You were explaining everything to him.

“Expeditiously.” I love that word when it comes to divorce. I’m no expert in divorce and I was very fortunate to have an amicable, respectful one with Katie, who I love very much. Shout out to Katie. But this one’s a little more complicated. A lot more complicated. I’m just trying to be there for both of them as much as I can be. But it was rough. It was awkward. I stayed in there and worked through it with him.

I would also love to talk about you and Katie because it seems like you guys have such a great friendship. Have you met her new boyfriend yet? What do you think of him?

Yeah. Well, according to Katie, I have a man crush on him, which is really weird, and it’s not true. But I think it was an admiration. He’s a rock star. Literally, a rock star. I just like seeing Katie happy. That’s coming right from my heart. I mean that with all of my heart and soul. I like seeing Katie happy and she seems really happy. Now that my brother’s staying with me, she doesn’t watch the dogs as much, but she can see them whenever she wants. We both went to Las Vegas last weekend for a gig, so she picked up the dogs and it was nice to see her. I still have a great, deep love and respect for her. I’m super happy for her! She’s crushing her podcast. She’s traveling. She looks happy. She looks in love. They’ve got that sandwich shop. Love The Gregg. 

I’ve seen pictures, it’s very cute. I saw Seth Rogen in there.

Yeah! Shout out to Seth, by the way. Just as I almost had lost all hope for Schwartz and Sandy’s, he came in and was this beacon of light because he’s one of my favorite writer/director/actors. I freaking love him and it was just cool. He came with his wife and some of his other friends and I was nervous. I was playing it cool. I did three laps before I went over and said hi to Seth. I was a little intimidated even though I had met him briefly before. Love Seth Rogan. Huge fan.

Photo: Getty Images

If there was a male-version of Bravo’s Love Hotel, would you like to be a part of it? What other male Bravolebs would you like to see check in and why?

First of all, thank you for not hitting me with a marry, fuck, kill because I am so sick of those questions. I never have a good answer. It’s just a recipe for disaster. You can’t win. Tom, just answer [the question]. Don’t be neurotic. Just be chill, okay? Don’t be weird. Here’s the thing – I don’t think the audience wants to see me on that show. Also, I am single, but I’m reluctantly, quietly single. I’m not out going on dates or anything. I’m a romantic. I have a hard time letting go sometimes of certain things. But, yes, if they asked me to do it, I’d probably just be like, “Schwartz, just do it.”

You get to go on vacation for a few weeks and if you meet someone then great.

And if you don’t, you get a free trip out of it. I know I want to have a family. I want to get married one more time. But after that, never again. I got one more marriage in me, and then I’m done. Putting the kibosh on marriages after that. But yeah, who would I want to be on it with? Definitely not Jax. I think Carl [Radke’s] looking for love. I still think he’s single. Carl from Summer House. I love Carl and I’m really excited about Soft Bar. I’d like to see Carl on there. I want to see him find love. He’s such a solid dude and I like his turnaround. I mean, I loved him before and after, but I know he had to wrestle with some demons himself. He’s really hit his stride. Shout out to Carl. I’d like to see him on there. We’re a package deal. You gotta take both of us.

How are you and Sandoval doing? Did you hear that he is going to be on America’s Got Talent with his band? Do you have any thoughts on that? 

I did know about that. Is that public knowledge now? 

He was in a teaser!

I love a good super tease. I may or may not have been there. I think it was cool, man. I was honestly impressed because it’s usually a show you go on when you’re just starting your career, not when you’re coming off of 10, 11 years on a reality television show. So, it was kind of weird, but it was really fun. I love that show and it was cool seeing Simon [Cowell] a stone’s throw [away] — oh, wait, I just gave myself away. I don’t think it matters if I talk about it. I’ve never told anyone that, though, but breaking news.

So, you were there in the audience?

Yeah, I was just hanging out because my brother had just moved to LA and he loves that show. Tom hit me up and he was like, “Yo, I have two extra seats.” The first thing I thought of was Pasadena traffic. And I thought about my brother. I was like, “I’ll live vicariously through my brother.” He loved it, and then I loved it too. So I’m glad I went. I think it’s cool. Why not? Of course, [Sandoval] is going to get some ridicule and everything, but who cares? Everybody’s gonna say something. You can’t let other people’s opinions define you or become you, or whatever that saying is. But I think it’s cool. Why not? Tomorrow is not promised, so I don’t know. I try to say yes to more things. Still be judicious about your life decisions. Anyways, I’m rambling.

As we all know, Vanderpump Rules is getting a new cast – and people have already spotted them filming outside of SUR. Since you’re close with Lisa Vanderpump, what do you know about the new cast? And is there any chance you’ll be making a cameo?

She’s been mum about it, but I’ve talked to her about how she’s feeling about it and everything. I’m not just saying this because I’m part of it and my name’s on it. I feel like it’s never gonna be Vanderpump Rules. You just can’t recreate that magic, but it’s its own thing. I think they found their version of lightning in a bottle again. They found a cast that all actually works there, knows each other, has real authentic relationships with one another. I don’t know if they all sleep together like we did, but hopefully for the viewers. One could only hope. I’m gonna watch it. Are you gonna watch it?

Photo: Bravo

Of course!

I’m totally gonna watch it and I’m probably gonna go in there and fangirl out. Like, “I remember my first TV show.” Some of the cast came into TomTom before they started filming this season, which I think they’re close to wrapping, and they were just like, “Do you have any advice for us? What should we do?” … I just said, “Just be authentic. Don’t come on with a preconceived notion of who you want to be. Don’t create a character or a legend in your own mind. Just be raw and real, off the cuff. Don’t self-script. Don’t be contrived.” I know there were a lot of great people that came and went on Vanderpump Rules, but I think some of them had an idea of how they wanted to portray themselves. They were like, “I’m going to bring it, I’m gonna be this type of person,” instead of just being themselves. 

I’m very excited to see it and hopefully we’ll see you on there.

I’ll probably end up on a Bravo show here and there.

Yes, the cameo king!

The cameo king!

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The Valley airs Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.